1
as in curious
interested in what is not one's own business
as we moved into our new home, we could sense that there were prying eyes watching us
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in busy
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in questioning
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in pulling
to raise, move, or pull apart with or as if with a lever
it took some effort to pry up the trap door
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in yanking
to draw out by force or with effort
a vain attempt to pry the cork out of a wine bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interfering
to interest oneself in what is not one's concern
don't go prying into other people's business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prying
Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
That was what led the princess to send her staff away and sneak the BBC crew in for the interview, isolating herself in the face of Bashir’s prying questions.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
The New Jersey native also teased some new music on the way after some prying from Hudson.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
The prying end also serves as a nail puller, box cutter and bottle opener.
—Ben Coxworth
october 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2025
The film stages its riot of activity as hard-nosed honesty, but its portrait is ultimately as ginned-up and inexact as the fictional news broadcast’s lurid prying.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Other prying eyes won’t have access to the documents, either.
—Zoe Guy, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
And rather than Christians leavening the secular right-wing movements, those movements are prying Christianity further and further away from the ethic and teachings of Jesus.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Given the material of choice, this pick could also serve as a multi-tool of sorts as well, with examples on the campaign page including prying open a tricky soda can or a quick screw tightening.
—New Atlas, 19 Jan. 2026
Water that seeps into small cracks or gaps around homes can freeze and expand, slowly prying open concrete, damaging driveways, sidewalks, and steps, and even compromising foundations.
—Brendel Clark, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Surveillance video shows two suspects arriving in a car, getting out with crowbars, and prying open the restaurant's front door.
—Conor McGill, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
That’s an immediate roadblock for large institutions like banks, whose clients largely don’t want their balances and payments history open to prying eyes.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
The basic tier, Surfshark Starter, will also block those infuriating adverts that can disrupt your browsing, and will block your identity from prying eyes.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 28 Nov. 2025
The paparazzi lurking around set have snapped photos of the actress in a head-to-toe puffer jacket that covers her costume from prying eyes.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Nov. 2025
Adjective
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying -- and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin, oregonlive, 4 Feb. 2023
But inquiring into the specifics of familial dynamics is impudent and prying — and a line of questioning that most people would be happy to avoid answering themselves.
—Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 4 Feb. 2023
The Google Nest Hub (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great smart display with no camera (and therefore no risk of unwanted prying eyes).
—Brenda Stolyar and Medea Giordano, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022
To my mind, however, there’s a difference between a Google or a Facebook, which provide valuable services in return for their prying eyes, and an app that serves a single, ostensibly benign purpose — parking validation.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2021
Carry two phones While anti-spy software may be effective in staving off the prying eyes of the Chinese government, not everyone knows how to install it.
—Jane Li, Quartz, 6 Aug. 2019
Its purpose: to train librarians to implement secure protocols on their own web services, and to teach members of the community to evade the prying eyes of governments, corporations, and criminal hackers.
—Eoin O'Carroll, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Oct. 2017
One reason Russians have loaded up on passports is that Cypriot citizenship helps them avoid the prying eyes of their government and pay lower taxes.
—Yalman Onaran, Bloomberg.com, 11 May 2017
Noun
Videos of the shooting have spread online and appear to show Good, 37, being told to get out of her car, with one agent walking and prying at the door handle.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
That was what led the princess to send her staff away and sneak the BBC crew in for the interview, isolating herself in the face of Bashir’s prying questions.
—Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
The New Jersey native also teased some new music on the way after some prying from Hudson.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
The prying end also serves as a nail puller, box cutter and bottle opener.
—Ben Coxworth
october 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2025
The film stages its riot of activity as hard-nosed honesty, but its portrait is ultimately as ginned-up and inexact as the fictional news broadcast’s lurid prying.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Other prying eyes won’t have access to the documents, either.
—Zoe Guy, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
While Jones could be a potential asset still in play, the Bulls’ interest in maintaining a larger presence due to the recent success of two-big lineups could dissuade any deals from prying the center away from the Bulls.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
And rather than Christians leavening the secular right-wing movements, those movements are prying Christianity further and further away from the ethic and teachings of Jesus.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026
Given the material of choice, this pick could also serve as a multi-tool of sorts as well, with examples on the campaign page including prying open a tricky soda can or a quick screw tightening.
—New Atlas, 19 Jan. 2026
Water that seeps into small cracks or gaps around homes can freeze and expand, slowly prying open concrete, damaging driveways, sidewalks, and steps, and even compromising foundations.
—Brendel Clark, Freep.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Surveillance video shows two suspects arriving in a car, getting out with crowbars, and prying open the restaurant's front door.
—Conor McGill, CBS News, 3 Jan. 2026
That’s an immediate roadblock for large institutions like banks, whose clients largely don’t want their balances and payments history open to prying eyes.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
The basic tier, Surfshark Starter, will also block those infuriating adverts that can disrupt your browsing, and will block your identity from prying eyes.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 28 Nov. 2025
The paparazzi lurking around set have snapped photos of the actress in a head-to-toe puffer jacket that covers her costume from prying eyes.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prying
Adjective
-
The line of demonstrators stretched for eight blocks, lining Broadway as curious theatergoers looked on.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
That was the first time that a full matchweek has ended in such a way since 2020-21 (October 23-26), with the previous occasion occurring in 2016-17, suggesting a reliable and curious five-year cycle.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
China has been particularly busy, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ireland's Prime Minister Michael Martin, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Starmer all visiting Beijing this month.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But Greenstein says that keeping your child’s favorite toys handy in one spot around the home where kids feel comfortable and safe can give busy parents some time (even if just a few minutes) to call a friend, make a cup of coffee, take that shower, or even do a quick workout routine.—
Jillian Pretzel,
Parents,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Hanna’s on-camera questioning brings out candid and telling responses from her fellow artists.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The Washington Examiner previously reported that Grassley was haggling with the administration over a date for testimony and that the length of questioning had become a sticking point.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Inspiration from Architecture Diana Milkanova is inquisitive by nature and has always found inspiration in architecture.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
At the center of the investigation is Bundle (Mia McKenna-Bruce), a sharp and inquisitive young woman unwilling to accept easy explanations.—
Isadora Wandermurem,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The series features new prison interviews with both Adamcik and Draper, rare police interrogation footage, and explores the impact on Cassie’s family and the killers’ parents.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
4 Feb. 2026
-
El Helicoide, a massive concrete structure in Caracas shaped like a three-sided pyramid, is owned by the Venezuelan state and has long been used by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service as a detention and interrogation facility for common and political prisoners.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Persistent bugs, performance issues, intrusive prompts, ads, and bloatware have eroded the core Windows experience.—
Tom Warren,
The Verge,
29 Jan. 2026
-
While this alarmed some users, this type of intrusive data harvesting is common on social media apps.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
London’s Metropolitan Police earlier this week opened a criminal inquiry into files suggesting Mandelson accepted money from Epstein and passed him confidential financial information while serving as a government minister 15 years ago.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
-
An Alberta public inquiry found that the cash to support pipeline opposition flowed to Canadian environmental activist groups through American charities, obscuring the identity of the donors.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Like your nosiest neighbor, furniture layouts have a knack for overstaying their welcome.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2026
-
This will keep out nosy children and pets.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prying. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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